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Chad

Chad – Hepatitis E Epidemic (OCHA, Ministry of Public Health, ECHO) (ECHO Daily Flash of 25 February 2017)

Chad - Hepatitis E epidemic (OCHA, Ministry of Public Health, ECHO)

  • The Ministry of Public Health of Chad has officially declared an epidemic of Hepatitis E in the region of Salamat, south-eastern Chad. The epidemic has already claimed the life of 12 people, including 4 pregnant women. A total of 956 cases have been identified so far. MSF and UNICEF are currently working with the authorities to provide a response, in a context of insufficient epidemiological surveillance, very limited presence of medical actors and lack of safe access to water and sanitation.

  • Hepatitis E is a liver disease caused by the hepatitis E virus. It is transmitted from one person to another, mainly through contaminated water.